WingXpand

About Job

Senior - Principal Electrical Engineer - Autonomous Systems

About WingXpand

WingXpand is Expanding What’s Possible™ with Autonomous Systems, building long-endurance, backpackable smart plane drones and robotics systems that support defense, public safety, disaster response, and commercial missions. Our platforms operate across air, ground, and maritime domains, integrating autonomy, AI-powered sensing, edge computing, and networked systems to deliver real-world intelligence and threat detection. We design, build, and deploy complete systems — hardware, software, and data — and we move fast. As WingXpand scales, we are seeking high performers to grow with our team.

Job Description

We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Principal Electrical Engineer with a proven track record in hands-on embedded product development. This is a unique opportunity to make an immediate impact by leading multiple concurrent development efforts. Beyond execution, we envision this individual growing into a Director of Hardware, building and mentoring our future hardware teams as WingXpand scales. This is a highly hands-on role where you'll be involved in all aspects of the development lifecycle. One day you might be elbow deep in the a drone performing hardware upgrades and repairs, and the next you'll be architecting innovative computer vision subsystems. If you're a versatile engineer who thrives on challenges and is ready to lead, we want to hear from you. (Bonus Points): Experience with autonomous systems, flying drones, computer vision, and machine learning subsystems will be highly regarded.

Key Responsibilities

End-to-End Hardware Design: Lead and execute all phases of new hardware development, including component selection, cost of goods (COGs) budgeting, PCB layout, assembly, new board bring-up, and authoring core drivers and firmware.

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Battery Management Expertise: Design, implement, and support robust battery management systems for a range of power requirements (from milliamp to 100+ Amp systems).

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‍Embedded Communications Mastery: Demonstrate expert-level proficiency in modern embedded communication protocols such as I2C, SPI, and CAN.

Full Development Lifecycle Leadership: Take ownership of greenfield designs from initial requirements gathering and customer interaction through to final verification and validation.

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‍Microcontroller Proficiency: Possess expert-level experience working with microcontrollers, with familiarity with the STM32 family being a significant advantage.‍‍

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‍Embedded Networking (Desirable): Experience with modern embedded mesh network technologies and chips.

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Language Agility: Be comfortable working with a variety of programming languages, including C, C++, and Python, on a regular basis.

Hands-on Execution: Be prepared to actively participate in the building and testing of embedded hardware and software on a daily basis.

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Qualifications

Required Experience: 8+ years of proven and substantial experience as a Principal-level Electrical Engineer with a strong and demonstrable history of successful hands-on embedded product development.

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Essential Leadership Capabilities: Demonstrated ability to independently lead technical projects from inception to completion and effectively guide junior engineers.

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‍Critical Problem-Solving Skills: Possess exceptional analytical and problem-solving abilities to tackle complex engineering challenges.

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Fundamental Communication Skills: Exhibit strong communication and interpersonal skills for effective collaboration within the team and with stakeholders.

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Core Work Ethic: A proactive, results-oriented approach with a strong sense of ownership and accountability is essential.

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Educational Foundation: Bachelor's degree or higher in Electrical Engineering

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Additional Qualifications

Part 107 certification or experience flying drones is plus—we love engineers who also fly!

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Proficiency in hardware design tools (Altium, OrCAD, KiCad) and simulation tools (SPICE, MATLAB, etc.).

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Proven track record in designing electrical systems from prototypes, low-rate to high-volume manufacturing environments.

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Hands-on experience with assembly techniques, soldering, and prototype development.

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Strong communication skills, capable of leading projects and collaborating with teams across disciplines.

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What Else You Need to Know

To conform to U.S. Government aerospace technology export regulations,
‍applicant must be a 'U.S. Person' (U.S. Citizen or a Permanent Resident/Green Card Holder).

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